while it remained would, as he had reason to think, prevent the accomplishment of his wishes to make peace; but the contemplated connexion with Princeton College, being in his view, a preferable expedient, he despatched a letter, as soon as it was agreed upon, revoking the request he had made. In reference to the contents of this letter, his friend observes,-" As I am afraid that your favourite plan will not take place, at least so soon as you seem to expect, let me recommend to you again to keep your Christian friends to their word about maintaining a poor boy. We help to maintain a poor but sprightly and good boy, at a grammar school, in hopes of his finishing his studies in Holland, as you proposed, and should be sorry to be disappointed of our expectations."

Under date of March the 28th, 1769, the same person writes, that letters had been received from the Classis of Amsterdam, "directed to the Cœtus and Conferentie respectively, informing them of the substance of the plan laid by them before the Synod, for accommodating the differences and healing the breach caused in the American Church by the contending parties." After noticing the conduct of the leaders of each party, upon the receipt of the classical letter:-(and from the statement made, it would appear that those of the Conferentie,

with the exception of Mr. Rysdyck, being violently opposed to the plan offered to their consideration, had prepared an answer without consulting the Elders of the Churches-and that those of the Cœtus, with more prudence and respect, before drawing up their answer, had endeavoured to ascertain the general opinion, in relation to the plan, by means of a circular letter, a copy of which had been sent to a member of the Church of NewYork with discretionary power,) he adds:-" As far as I can find, the whole Cœtus, with all their heart, (as I imagine they will write the Classis) as well as all the leading members of our Church, will cheerfully agree to the plan, except to that part which relates to the Local Union with Princeton College; as it is apprehended much mischief would arise to our cause, from a union with that or any other College, at this present time. And the plan proposed by the Classis (if the parties will but unite) can as well be carried into execution without that union as with."

In another letter, dated June, 1769, he has the following paragraph: "Our Consistory wrote their sentiments to the Rev. Classis of Amsterdam, on the 11th of May, about the difference between the Conferentie and Cœtus, and gave them to under

stand, that if the former were as much disposed to make peace as the latter, the matter would be soon settled. The principal objection against the proposed plan, is the local junction with Nassau-Hall, in Princeton, almost every body judging it best that we neither join that college, nor the one in this city. This is the opinion of our congregation."

These extracts show the foundation of the supposition, that the union alluded to, but not distinctly described, in the letter of Dr. Witherspoon, was to be of a collegial kind, or to give to the institution over which he expected to preside, and more particularly to himself, as an approved divine, for a time, or until the Church could have a professor of her own, the education of such of her sons as had the ministry in view. And though the article relating to this union was opposed with some little zeal; yet it is not improbable that if the Classis had directed all the Churches to meet and deliberate, in convention, upon the subject of their communication, the plan as submitted, or at least in a modified form, would have been adopted, and had the desired effect. That order, however, was not given, and the sense of the Church, therefore, was but partially taken; and the answers transmitted to the Classis, being upon most points at variance with

each other, nothing more was done for the present. The whole business was now suffered to sleep for awhile.

Mr. Livingston had cherished sanguine expectations of the success of this plan, which had been referred to the Church with the approbation of the Synod of North Holland; but God saw fit to disappoint him in the result, to give him, at some future day, as the reward of his benevolent zeal, a more interesting agency in the reconciliation of his divided brethren, and to put him in the honourable place which he had sought so actively, and irrespectively of any private advantage, to get appropriated to another person.

It need only be added here, that the accquaintance which he and Dr. Witherspoon formed with each other in Holland, led to the mutual cultivation of a cordial, and warm, and lasting friendship between them.

About the same time, the Church of New-York, as the building called the North Church was near being completed, and it was evident that Dr. Laidlie alone could not render all the service which would be needed, when that building should be opened for

public worship, began to think of calling another English preacher.

In anticipation of this emergency, Dr. Laidlie and some prominent members of the Church, who had become intimate friends of Mr. Livingston, during the winter he spent with them antecedently to his departure for Holland, had long been inclined towards him as a person possessing those excellent qualities desirable in a pastor, and the inclination being confirmed by the pleasing intelligence they had now and then received respecting him, they did not hesitate to express their predilection in favour of him. A number of the congregation would have been gratified, if a call had been immediately made out and forwarded, as his licensure was expected soon to take place; but there were some who wished to see or hear first an account of his pulpit talents, and others who thought it would be rather indiscreet to call him before he had returned,—not that they questioned his piety or ministerial gift; but because they considered it proper that they should have an opportunity of judging a little for themselves of his qualifications for so important a station, and chiefly because they apprehended that his voice would be too feeble to fill their large places of worship.